Introduction
William George "Bill" Prest (2 April 1926 – 8 December 2012) was a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for the Australian Labor Party in 1976 until 1992, former Gladstone Harbour Board member and once Gladstone mayor.
Prest was born in Longreach, Queensland. In 1970, he stood for local council elections and was elected, he later became Gladstone's deputy mayor in 1975. The Gladstone Port Access Bridge was renamed the Bill Prest bridge in 2010.
In his last term in the Queensland Parliament, Prest caused controversy when he made a racist slur against former state National Party Aboriginal Affairs Minister and future Federal MP Bob Katter when he called him a gin jockey. Prest however was not publicly disciplined and retained his position as whip but the controversy did see him being taken about out of the limelight of public life.
Prest died, aged 86, in Gladstone, Queensland. Robert Schwarten, Liz Cunningham including deputy mayor Matt Burnett and mayor Gail Sellers attended his funeral to pay tribute.
Personal life
Prest is survived by his wife Patricia, son Darryl Prest and daughters Patricia Hick and Liz Fallon.